“We had to make a change”: Raymond Dalmau talks about the departure of Eddie Casiano

The former leaders of the adult National Team, Raymond Dalmau and Flor Meléndez, reacted yesterday to the departure of Eddie casiano of the technical direction, while the suggestion for his replacement between a local or foreign technician is a mixed one between them.

The local Basketball Federation, through a statement, reported yesterday the end of the relationship with Casiano, who entered the position in 2016 and who had a contract until the 2023 World Cup.

“The decision responds to a change in the leadership of the national team. We are extremely grateful for the work and commitment that Eddie Casiano has shown in directing our National Team for the past six years. “, expressed Yum Ramos, federative president in a press release.

Ramos and general manager Carlos Arroyo were not available to expand on the departure of Casiano, who recently also was left out of the direction of the Piratas de Quebradillas at BSN.

For Dalmau, former leader of the team from 1990 to 1994 and current member of the Federation Selection Commission, the change of command was imminent.

“I don’t think there is much to say. They are situations and decisions of the Federation. I understand that a change had to be made. Being here so many years, seeing so much, many times there has to be another direction “said the former player of the national quintet.

“I can’t say (nothing bad) about Eddie. He did the work he had to do with the players he had. Maybe he could have done a lot more, but as a coach I am not in a position to really weigh in. I’ve been through that. It would be unprofessional for me to express an opinion. Everyone has a different opinion, “added the legendary Pirates player.

Raymond Dalmau is part of the Federation Selection Commission. (Andre Kang)

Despite guiding the National Team to the second round of the 2019 China World Cup for the first time 17 years, Casiano’s chair has been on the side of controversy in recent months.

The former NBA gunner Jose Juan Barea, captain of the national team, made public his desire to see a change in leadership. The canastero, incidentally, was absent for the Olympic Repechage last June, but insisted that his decision was not based on the permanence of Casiano.

Puerto Rico lost matches to Italy and Serbia in Belgrade to be out of the Olympics, where they have not played since Athens 2004. They also did not enter Rio 2016 with Casiano on the bench.

Casiano also faced the premature retirements of stars David Huertas and Ángel Rodríguez. Veterans Javier Mojica and Ramón Clemente also retired prior to the Repechage.

Casiano ended his stage with the National Team with a 26-16 mark, succeeding against the countries of the region, but without luck against the European nations (1-7). Before the announcement of the Federation, he had on the agenda to prepare the call for the first qualifying window for the 2023 World Cup with matches against Mexico on November 28 and 29.

“That is a shame when he has to leave a team and even more so at this moment so close to the window. It would have been good that, without already being with the Quebradillas Pirates (he left the chair in September) he would have enough time for the team “said Flor Meléndez, who was in charge of the National Team for the last time from 2011 to 2013.

Flor Meléndez directed the Selection between 2011 and 2013.
Flor Meléndez directed the Selection between 2011 and 2013.
(Jorge A Ramirez Portela)

“For now, that’s what strikes me. You always have to be ready for that. I was talking about it with my family a while ago. He has taken two hard blows in the last month. He is a young man. Let him continue preparing as a technician. They are blows that one has to get used to because they can come at any moment and stop to evaluate oneself. In all defeats you have to look inside, analyze it, and keep working. We live from this and we like it, it has been in our blood since we were little. I have witnessed Eddie’s career since he was 12 years old. It is a pity. When they fire a technician I see myself there. As if it were me, ”shared Meléndez.

Who is the next leader?

The Federation did not immediately announce Casiano’s replacement. Candidates that sound, at the moment, are the Argentine Sergio Hernández, who left the Argentine leadership after Tokyo 2020, and the leader of the Bayamón Vaqueros, Nelson Colón.

“I am not against someone from outside. All candidates who come forward must be evaluated. After I am a candidate who can do the job, I am not opposed to an outside coach ”, dijo Dalmau.

Meléndez, however, recalled that the last two foreign leaders, the Spanish Francisco “Paco” Olmos and the American Rick Pitino, did not yield the desired results for the Federation.

“The Federation has to remember that the last two outsiders have not worked. With that experience they have to try to make him a Puerto Rican, as he was for many years before in the National Team.. The last ones who have been (from abroad) have not finished the thing well. The Federation has to think about it. I understand that there are well-prepared technicians in the country who can take the job, “said Meléndez.

Coach 'Paco' Olmos (left) with setter José Juan Barea. (File)
Coach ‘Paco’ Olmos led Puerto Rico in Spain in 2014.

Regarding the extension of the contract that the new leader can receive to work with the adult program, Dalmau does not believe in a long-term pact.

“That’s the problem. There is no long-term job. Now you don’t have the players to do long-term work. It is difficult to get players for a single tournament, imagine. I don’t know why they say that because it is a misconception. It is a very difficult subject because I have lived it all my life. It has been tried to do and it has not happened. There is what a coach wants to do and the reality is different, “said Dalmau.

Casiano was the leader for the longest time with the National Team after Julio Toro’s tenure in the position from 1999 to 2006.

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